Novak Djokovic’s record-breaking victory Tuesday evening was notable for a number of reasons, perhaps none more important than it was arguably the best the 12-time Grand Slam winner has played this season.
Djokovic survived a tight match to emerge victorious 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 over 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro on Stadium Court on Tuesday evening.
“The rankings don’t do much justice for the quality of tennis that he produces, the player that he is,” Djokovic said. “He’s a big match player, and he knows how to play on a big occasion.”
Djokovic now has won an astonishing 19 consecutive matches at Indian Wells, which is the longest win streak in the event’s 43-year history. His last loss here was four years ago in the semifinals to del Potro.
Del Potro, ranked No. 35, was matched with Djokovic, seeded No. 2 in the ultra-competitive quarter-section of the men’s draw that included Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and rising stars Nick Kyrgios and Alexander Zverev, among others. That meant two Grand Slam champions were pitted against each other in the round-of-32.
And the match did not disappoint. Del Potro took Djokovic to the wire in the first set, and won the second, before Djokovic turned back into the unstoppable force that dominated tennis for the better part of the last three years.
Tuesday’s win over del Potro gave Djokovic 763 victories, tied with Pete Sampras for 10th most in the Open Era. He also joined Federer and Nadal as the third player to earn 300 ATP Masters 1000 victories.
Djokovic will play Kyrgios on Wednesday after 3 p.m. on Stadium Court.
Source:- Desert Sun
Source:- Desert Sun
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon